Unesco dedicates huge Satun area as ‘Global Geopark’

SATUN: Unesco has dedicated a huge area of Satun province, south of Phuket on the Andaman coast, as a “Global Geopark”. The Geopark covers four districts – Thungwa, La-ngu, Manang and part of Muang Satun – and includes two national parks and one wildlife sanctuary.

The dedication of the “Unesco Satun Global Geopark” came yesterday (April 17) in a release posted on the Unesco website, along the 12 other candidate areas also being granted “Global Geopark” status.

“Unesco’s Executive Board today gave the Unesco Global Geopark label to 13 sites demonstrating the diversity of the planet’s geology. These inscriptions were recommended by the Unesco Global Geoparks Council,” said the release. (See release here.)

Unesco Global Geoparks are territories that promote geodiversity through community-led initiatives to enhance regional sustainable development, notably through sustainable tourism. They help monitor and promote awareness of climate change and natural disasters, and many help local communities prepare disaster mitigation strategies, eth international agency explained.

As such, Unesco described the Satun area as, “A peaceful place with renowned natural beauty.”

“Mountains and foothills characterize the eastern and northern areas, while beaches and coastal islands dominate the Andaman Sea part of the Geopark,” Unesco said in its detailed description of the Geopark. (See here.)

“Famously referred to as the ‘Land of Palaeozoic fossils’, the area is renowned, in both Thailand and the whole of Southeast Asia, for its abundance and high diversity of fossil species as well as for the oldest succession of fossils including trilobites, brachiopods, stromatolites, conodonts, graptolites, tentaculites and nautiloids.

“The Cambrian trilobite fossils of Tarutao Island are the oldest in the Thai-Malay Peninsula and the volcanic ash layers allow for absolute dating of the late Cambrian trilobite biostratigraphy. One new genus and five species of Cambrian trilobites were discovered here, as well as the fascinating red stromatolites,” ,” noted the release.

“A significant amount of evidence in the area supports the evolution theory of the Old-World Realm in which Shan-Thai formed as a part of peri-Gondwana terranes.

“Prasat Hin Panyod is probably the most important geosite of the Geopark. The outstanding geological features of this site are characterised by a spectacular pinnacle karst landscape, including a stunning sea cave and hidden lagoon, which tourist can visit by kayak,” the release added.

In terms of sustaining local communities, Unesco noted, “The area of Satun Unesco Global Geopark has a population of about 113,110 inhabitants of mainly Thai origin. It is known as a peaceful place with renowned natural beauty, where several cultures and religious groups, Buddhist, Muslim and Christian, as well as minority groups, i.e. Semung or Maniq and Urak Lawoi, live together in harmony.

“Economic activities are primarily based on agriculture, fishery, tourism, and small local businesses. The Geopark supports strong collaboration and networking between local people, communities and governments, especially concerning geo-conservation, geo-tourism and education, the latter of which has received particular attention since the discovery of abundant fossil records in 2007.”

The Geopark is to promote the sale of local products from communities through different activities, such as the Satun Fossil Festival and other related fairs.

“Geotourism offers many advantages to both the local community and the sites themselves. By generating job opportunities and new income streams and providing funds for the protection of the geosites and upgrading of facilities, the quality of life for local people has improved significantly.

“Besides its socio-economic importance, geotourism practised both sustainably and ethically in this area, also improves levels of appreciation, understanding and respect for the surroundings, which in turn may lead to the protection and conservation of geo-, bio- and cultural diversity,” Unesco explained.

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